On behalf of our more than 1,450 members, we are writing to
endorse Ohio House Bill 9 and to urge lawmakers to vote for it. The
legislation, with its emphasis on education and enforcement, embodies the
spirit of open government. We appreciate Ohio's progressive approach to freedom
of information and would like to see other states follow its example by
considering similar legislation.

The Society of Environmental Journalists (www.sej.org),
founded in 1990, is the world's oldest and largest organization of individual
working journalists covering environmental issues. The SEJ First Amendment Task
Force was formed in March 2002 to, among other things, provide SEJ members with
services to help them obtain and use public records and to combat efforts to
withhold those records.

Quick access to public records that shed light on topics from
water pollution in Lake Erie to air pollution from coal-fired power plants can
have an immediate effect on the health and well-being of residents and voters.
The information, generally gathered or maintained with taxpayer dollars,
belongs to citizens. The proposed law spells out what is public, how to handle
records that aren't public, and how to evaluate information requests much more
clearly, making it easier for well-intentioned public officials to understand and
follow the law. On the other hand, the law packs a new punch for those who try
to hide public information. The proposed penalties show that Ohio lawmakers
mean business. Those who support the proposed bill are taking a stand for their
constituents' right to know about the environment in which they live and the
way their tax money is spent.

Some open records violations are caused simply by a
misunderstanding of the law. The training included in the bill is among its
most valuable measures, helping assure that those who face penalties are
deliberate law-breakers.

SEJ encourages Ohio lawmakers to seize this opportunity to become
a model for other states and a national leader in its approach to freedom of
information. Vote for House Bill 9.